Piper PA-28-161 accident near Sanbornton, New Hampshire, October 9, 1982
On October 9, 1982 at about 1:25 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9535C, was destroyed in an accident near Sanbornton, New Hampshire (Laconia Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1982 · about 1:25 am local time
- Place
- Sanbornton, New Hampshire · Laconia Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9535C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816490
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ADVISED DURING HIS WX BRIEFING THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT AND DESTINATION. THE PLT, WHOSE BUSINESS CONCERN WAS IN THE GLENS FALLS AREA, COMMUTED ALMOST DAILY TO HIS HOME IN GILFORD, NH. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT ABOUT THE 1250 FT LEVEL ON THE WEST SIDE OF A 1315 FT HILL. THE WRECKAGE SITE WAS LOCATED SLIGHTLY NORTH OF THE RWY 8 LOCALIZER COURSE, ABOUT 1/2 MI WEST OF THE FINAL APPROACH FIX. NO APPROACH PLATES WERE FOUND IN THE ACFT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,675 hours in all; 1,675 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,505 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,784 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 350 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Glens Falls NY at 7:56 pm
- Destination: C Gilford NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 124°F (51°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.